The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-23
MARVELLOUS.
Two Lunatics Put in One Cell,

And Are Told TO Keep an Eye on Each Other
Each Thinks tho Other is as Crazy as
Loon But in Time the Effect Proves Bene-
fcial-The Reason OF Both is Restored, and
Once More They Go Forth Into 1.-THE World
as Men Among Men.
The increase of insanity in New York
city during the past few years is re-
markable, and the scientists are search
ing among dry statistics and the histo-
nv of individual cases for the cause OF
the increase. says special to The Gin
c,nnah Enquirer. The asylums are
overcrowded everywhere, and the pub
lie institutions can not contain the
number of patients who are sent there.
Formerly If one case week appeared
it was thought 10 be about the average;
now there is not day passes when the
hospital boat that goes to Blackwelrs
island does not carry from five to ten
lunatics. The lack of accommodations
for them has rendered doubling-up
system necessary, and in two cases, at
least, the result has been of decided
benefit, and further experiments will
be made in the same line that may lead
to some important changes in the treat
ment of the insane.
These two patients referred to have
been in the asylum for more than a
year under the charge of DIR. MacDon-
aid. One of them,
THOMAS HARKINs,
A mason and builder, is about thirty
five years old. He was at work in
cellar about two years ago in house
at Fordham when the place took fire.
He tried to get up the stairway, but
was driven back by the flames and
smoke. Half suffocated, he crawled
{ along the cellar floor to cistern, part
Wy filed with water and jumped into it.
The flames ragged fiercely over him,
and he could see the progress of the
fire. The suspense was terrible. What
moment the floor would give way and
precipitate the building on his head he
could not tell. The walls of the cellar
were of brick, and thus kept the fire
from coming close to him; and he lay
on the water with his eyes fastened on
the fire above, expecting death. The
intensity of the heat was subdued by
application of water to his head and
face. This became warm, but, fortu-
nately never reached temperature
that was scalding 1t was over two
hours before the fire was got under con-
troll from the outside and it was some
time afterward before he dared to leave
the place of refuge. In these few hours
he lived life time, and when he was
finally taken out of the building and
the strain was ended.
HE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS.
Then followed severe attack of
brain fever, and when the fever abated
and the delrium had gone, his eye did
not recognize his family or friends. He
had an idea that they were all animals
Of some kind, and that he was COW.
The only way he would take food was
by telling him that it was hay. As long
as he remained quiet and did not show
any inclination to injure himself or
others he was treated at his home.
Finally he showed suicidal tendency
and was taken to the asylum.
The other patient was Jefferson
Williams, a middle-aged negro. who
had followed the sea for many years ms
cook. He was picked up in open boat
about thirty miles off Cape Hatteras.
The boat belonged to the schooner
John j. Ward, and II is estimated from
what is known that he had been float
ing around in the boat for twenty-five
days. He was the only survivor.
There was a dead sailor in the boat
with him that showed marks Of having
been visited by
A MAN-EATER.
Two others who were in the boat
jumped overheard, having become
crazed by thirst Williams was lying
In the boat alongside of the corpse
when he was found. He was nearly
dead from exhaustion. There was moth
ing to eat or drink in the boat save hu-
man flesh. Williams was well cared
for In the Old Dominion Line steamer
that picked him up. and he was much
stronger physically when the vessel ar
rived here. Mentally he was a wreck,
and after an examination by the Com